#No2H8 Crime Awards: Educating Greater Manchester star’s prize for befriending refugee

The simple act of young schoolboy Jack Stanley befriending a lonely Syrian refugee at his school in Salford catapulted him to national fame.

Viewers were touched watching Jack help Rani Asaad, now 12, when he was being bullied at school on Channel 4’s Educating Greater Manchester.

Jack received rapturous applause when he took to the stage to receive the Young Upstander award. He said: “Rani was in the corner by himself, so I just went up to him and asked, ‘Do you want to come in our group and make more friends?’,” Jack explains on screen.

“He was getting bullied at the time and didn’t have that many friends so he came over and joined our group. I don’t like seeing people on their own and hope other people think like that. Even if you’re in a group of just two or three that’s better than being alone.”

Rani, who was forced to leave Syria aged four, said: “Jack really deserves this award. Everyone needs to be like Jack!”

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